Locking mechanism for locking laterally adjustable cylinder bearings



Mmh 30, 1954 R BECHLE 2,673,766

P. LOCKING MECHANISM FOR LOCKING LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER BEARINGS Filed May 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l FlGi MANUAL SWITCH MAG. cSTARTER OIL ACCUMULA MAG STARTER PRESSURE GAGE SELECTOR R LIEF VALVE VALVE MOTOR CHECK \ALVE FILTER RESERVOIR 2 l I; g tg v INVEN TOR.

RIJDOLPH P. BECHLE R. P. BECHLE 2,673,766 LOCKING MECHANISM FOR LOCKING LATERALLY March 30, 1954 ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER BEARINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1951 I INVENTOR W 7? M 4 Y %w.& M-

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 30, 1954 LOCKING MECHANISM FOR LOOKING LAT- ERALLY ADJUSTABLE --OYLINDER BEAR- INGS .Rudolph,P..Bechle, Yonkers, N. Y., assi'gnor to Potdevifn Machine Co pa q m. N .a corporation of New York :ApnlicationMaylfi, 1951, Serial No. 2 26,591

(Cl. BOB-59) .3 cla s. 1

My invention broadly relates to printing presses but more specifically relates totheimpression cylinders or rollers of the. press.

In printing presses it is necessary to provide for lateral adjustment ofthe impression-cylinders relative to thecooperating plate cylinders. This is conventionally accomplished by providing an adjustment for the box'bearings for the cylinders. However, ;the. v,mechanisms heretofore employed have not provenrentirely satisfactory in that, while it is a comparatively simple matter to provide for shiftingthe bearings, it has been diflicult tocompensate for wear of the adjusting mechanism and extremely difiicultto provide for maintaining the bearingszandphence, the impression cylinders inadjusted position.

On this typej-ofmachine it is essential that the adjusting mechanism be of such a nature that an infinite numberof very fine adjustments can be obtained, and it is equally essential for-production purposes that thecylinders. after being adjusted, remain in adjusted position.

In a broad sense, my invention provides mechanism whereby theabove .mentijonedrequirements are met a 1simple, and. relatively inexpensive fashion.

More specifically,'my invention provides means whereby the impression cylinders may be ad justed and then lockedm adjusted position. Still more specifically, I provide for an infinite number of adjustments of the cylinders together with hydraulically operated means for locking the cylinders in adjusted position.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a general layout of my improved mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a part-sectional elevational view of the adjusting and locking mechanism; and Fig. 3 is a part-sectional elevational view of a cylinder mounted in the bearings shown in Fig. 2;

Referring to the drawings in detail:

For purposes of clarity of illustration and description I have shown the invention applied to one of the bearings of an impression cylinder of a printing press, it being understood, of course, that the equipment is applied to both bearings of each cylinder.

The bearing or box for one end of an impression cylinder I of a printing press has been designated 2, and it is shown in plan in Fig. 1 and in section in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows the impression cylinder l with a bearing or box at each end thereof.

Each box is movable or adjustable laterally in the fixed machine frame members 4, so as to longitudinal movement.

Afilxed to each of the sleeves I0 is worm gear l2, which is driven by worm M.

It will beseen from the foregoing that this construction provides a very simple arrangement whereby the bearingsi and, hence, an impression cylinder mounted therein may be laterally adjusted either to the right or left, as viewed inFig. 2, to. vary the position of the cylinder with a cooperating cylinder. It will beapparent also that, because of the threaded adjusting mechanism provided, the number of possible adjustments is infinite.

As above pointed out, the object of this inventionis to provide for not onlyan infinite number ofadjustments for -the impression cylinder, but to provide for locking the cylinder in an t e e d ust 0$i i0 As illustrated in Fig.2, the upper face of each bearing 2 is provided with a depression or recess It. This is preferably circular in plan. Just below this depression or recess I6 is another circular depression l8, which is slightly smaller in diameter than 16. This construction provides an annular shoulder 20 in the bearing at the bottom of recess I6 for supporting a diaphragm 22 of a suitable plastic or other material, this diaphragm being provided on its upper face with a thin metal annulus 24. The diaphragm assembly is held in place by a ring or annulus 26, which is threaded into the bearing, and clamps the diaphragm and the metal annulus 24 to the bearing.

Resting upon the upper face of the diaphragm assembly is a locking plug, which is slightly larger in diameter than the inner diameter of the annulus 24.

The upper end of the plug 23, when the diaphragm assembly is deflected, will be pushed into locking contact with the machine frame member 4.

Pressure is supplied to th cavity l3 beneath the diaphragm assembly from the line 36.

An oil reservoir has been shown in Fig. 1, and

the fluid, oil for example, is placed under presnumber of adjustments are possible so far as the impression cylinder bearings are concerned. It will be apparent also that, because the outer end of the plug 28 is flat and because it engages a flat surface on the machine frame, the bearing can be locked in any and all adjusted positions.

It will be understood that pressure is maintained on the lower side of the diaphragm whenever the machine is in use. When an adjustment is to be made to the bearings, the selector valve 32 is turned to position to permit the oil or other fluid to return to the reservoir through return line 34. This will, of course, unlock the hearings, to permit it to be adjusted. The bearings may then be shifted or adjusted as above explained, and after being so shifted, the valve 32 is then turned again to permit fluid under pressure to be supplied to the cavity I8 to lock the bearing.

It will be understood that, while I have shown the invention applied to but one bearing, in practice the same arrangement is supplied to both bearings for each impression roller or cylinder.

From all of the foregoing it will be appreciated that I have provided a very simple construction for adjusting the impression cylinders of printing presses wherein an infinite number of adjustments of the cylinder may be obtained and the cylinder locked in any adjusted position.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a cylinder, bearings there'- for, a fixed mount for the bearings in which the bearings are laterally adjustable and locking mechanism for the bearings, said locking mechanism comprising, in combination, a diaphragm carried by each bearing, a locking element carried by the diaphragm and positioned between the diaphragm and the said mount, and means for supplying pressure fluid to one side of the diaphragm to deflect the same to force the looking element into locking contact with said mount.

2. In combination, a cylinder, bearings therefor, a fixed mount for the hearings in which the bearings are laterally adjustable, each bearing being provided with a cavity abreast of a portion of said mount, a diaphragm rigidly secured to each bearing and bridging the cavity therein, a plug between each diaphragm and the opposed surface of the said mount, and means for supplying pressure fluid to the face of each diaphragm remote from said plugs to effect a deflection of the diaphragms and force said plugs into locking contact with the opposed face of said mount.

3. In combination, a cylinder, a bearing therefor, a fixed mount for the bearing in which the bearing is laterally adjustable, the bearing being provided with a cavity abreast of a portion of said mount, a disc diaphragm overlying said bearing cavity, an annulus overlying the diaphragm, a ring screwed into the bearing and rigidly clamping the diaphragm and overlying annulus to the bearing; a plug overlying the diaphragm between it and the opposed portion of the said mount, the outside diameter of the plug exceeding the inside diameter of said annulus, and means for admitting pressure fluid to the bearing cavity beneath said diaphragm to deflect the diaphragm to force said plug into locking contact with said mount.

RUDOLPH P. BECHLE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,507,436 Seymour Sept. 2, 1924 1,824,436 Lamatsch Sept. 22, 1931 2,451,730 Greenlee Oct. 19, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 138,761 Great Britain Feb. 19, 1920 

